Justice Ministry

Love your Neighbor"You have been told,
O mortal,
what is good,

and what the LORD requires of you:

Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8

Social Justice Ministry

We are called to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before our God.

Join us for Conversations about how we can walk together to help each other.

What is it that concerns you? your children, grandchildren? your elderly parents?

CALL 239-600-6747 to share your concern

 

Civilize It

A polarized Church. A divided nation. Pope Francis calls for “a better kind of politics.” How will you respond?

As Catholics, we take to heart Jesus’ invitation to follow the example of the Good Samaritan, who challenges us to “become neighbors to all” (no. 80). As a Church and a nation, we are polarized and divided. But as Pope Francis writes in Fratelli Tutti, we can seek “a better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good” (no. 154). We can see ourselves as members of one family. We can seek to encounter and to grow. We can identify common values. We can listen to understand. We can seek the truth together. We can jointly come up with creative solutions to the problems that face our world.

Civilize It: A Better Kind Of Politics is a response to Pope Francis’ invitation. Join us to model this “better kind of politics.” Take the pledge below to commit to seeking the truth, building bridges, and finding solutions together that promote the common good. Individuals, families, and communities can participate.

Taking the pledge is just the first step. Additional materials can help us as we reimagine our way of being in the world. Begin today by loving God through encounter with a neighbor as a  sister or brother.

I PLEDGE:

Charity

  • To affirm through my words and actions the dignity of every person, each made in God’s image. Even those with whom I disagree are made in his image.
  • To respectfully listen in order to understand experiences different from my own.

Clarity

  • To engage in critical examination to ensure that my perspectives are rooted in truth, that my sources of information are unbiased, and that I do not open myself to manipulation by partisan interests.
  • To form my conscience through prayerful reflection, study of scripture and Church teaching, and guidance from reputable experts.
  • To reflect on my own values and seek, with others, to identify shared values.
  • To be open to the process of dialogue that can require change of perspective—my own and others’—in service to the inviolable dignity of all and the common good.
  • Creativity

    • To be a bridgebuilder who participates in constructive dialogue based in shared values, a mutual exchange of gifts, and the humility to together seek the good.
    • To see differences in perspective as opportunities for creative tension which can yield solutions for the common good.
    • To work with others in order to identify creative solutions rooted in our shared values.

Find this pledge and other resources and prayers at https://www.usccb.org/civilizeit

It is important to share conversations in a meaningful way with CIVILITY, COMPASSION AND CLARITY

Civil dialogue can best be defined as the ability to enter meaningful conversation with people whose viewpoints may be different from our own, who have a different background or experiences, or who come to
a different conclusion about the best way to promote the common good. We enter into civil dialogue because we want to build a community that is rooted in understanding one another. God’s love for each person requires us to remember that someone who disagrees with us is still a beloved child of God. 

Tips for Engaging in Civil Dialogue:
Listen first and seek to understand the whole picture.
 Ask questions for clarification.
Use ‘I’ statements; pay attention to body language.
Listen to what feelings are present and pay attention to how you respond.
Summarize what you’ve heard and ask for feedback. 
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB’s) mission

is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy.
God who deserves our love, respect, and care. 

LISTEN TO BISHOP FRANK DEWANE & BISHOP MARIO E DORSENVILLE

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION on CIVILIZE IT

https://youtu.be/-RSZJxXLiDo

 

Resurrection Mission Statement

Convinced that Jesus communicates a new life to those who believe in Him, and that He was raised from the dead in order that we might live, we are united to the risen Lord as a people born anew to a life of hope. Called together as a people of faith, we believe that the Father who raised Jesus from the dead will also raise us, and that we will continue to bear witness to the fact that we are liberated from sin. As a Resurrection people we are committed to victory over sin through charity, loving God above all else, each other and ourselves.